Man Confesses to Killing Three Homeless Victims in Northern Thailand

Man Confesses to Killing Three Homeless Victims in Northern Thailand

CHIANG MAI, May 1, 2026 — Thai police have arrested a 31-year-old man suspected of killing at least three homeless men in a series of attacks across Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, authorities said on Friday.

The suspect, identified as Pana Puli, was apprehended near Chang Phueak Market while allegedly attempting to flee the city. He has confessed to all three killings, according to police.

The case came to light on April 29 when officers discovered the burned body of a 51-year-old homeless man beneath Rattanakosin Bridge in Chiang Mai. Investigators said the suspect admitted to stabbing the victim during a dispute before setting the body on fire in an attempt to conceal the crime.

Later the same day, a second victim, aged 46, was found dead near another bridge in the city. Police said the suspect confessed to beating and stomping the man to death following an argument over sleeping space.

Authorities also linked the suspect to an earlier killing in Chiang Rai on January 7, where another homeless man was murdered before the suspect fled to Chiang Mai.

Regional police said the attacks had caused widespread public concern, particularly among vulnerable communities living rough in urban areas.

The suspect has been charged with murder and destruction of a body to conceal evidence. Police said investigations are ongoing to determine whether he may be connected to other cases.

Officials added that he denied involvement in a separate death in an abandoned building in Chiang Mai, which remains under investigation.